100 Women Honoured For Contributions

[Updated] Today [Mar 8] serves to celebrate International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. International Women’s Day honours the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women’s success, and reminds us of inequities still to be redressed.

This year is the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day and the Ministry of Youth, Families, Sports and Community Development and The Department of Human Affairs is taking the lead along with The Centre Against Abuse, The Women’s Resource Centre and the newly formed Bermuda Women’s Council in organizing events for the month of March.

The ’100 Women 100 Vision’ project saw 100 Bermudian women nominated for their vauluable contributions to the advancement of women in Bermuda. The list includes notables such as trade union pioneer Dr Barbara Ball, entertainer Heather Nova, social activist Dr Eva Hodgson and many more women who have far ranging and wide accomplishments. The list is also notable for those it does not include, such as trailblazer Dame Lois Browne-Evans, and the first female Premier of Bermuda Dame Pamela Gordon.

The 100 nominees follow below:

1. Adams-Raynor, Lucetta Jane- deceased
2. Attride-Stirling, Dr. Jennifer
3. Attride-Stirling, Lucy
4. Autor, Lorelie
5. Bailey, JP, Leleath
6. Ball, OBE, Dr. Barbara
7. Barton, Simone
8. Basden, Jacquelyn
9. Bean, DBE, Dame Marjorie- deceased
10. Benn, Mariah- deceased
11. Bermuda Professional Women’s Association
12. Bermuda Women’s Suffrage Society-deceased
13. Big Blue Machine
14. Blakeney-Saltus, Gita
15. Boden, Liz
16. Brock ,Arlene
17. Brock Williams, MBE, Merle
18. Burgess, Helena “Molly”
19. Butterfield, MBE, JP, MP, Hon. D.I.Neletha
20. Caines, Shurnette
21. Cann (Smith), Dorothy L.
22. Cannonier, OBE, JP, Jeanette
23. Carter, Renee Marie
24. Christopher, Hazel
25. Christopher, Betty
26. Daniels,Verbena- deceased
27. Davis, MBE, Iris
28. Dill,Valerie
29. Douglas, Rose
30. Evans, Dorothy E- deceased
31. Faulkenberry, Rebecca
32. Feldman, Nicola
33. Fleming, Claudette
34. Foulger, Caroline
35. Furbert, Gilda Mae
36. Furbert-Woolridge, Rev. Betty Lorraine
37. Godwin, Margaret- deceased
38. Gordon, Diane
39. Harvey, Suzette
40. Hayward, Rev. Dr. Joyce
41. Hayward-Harris, Sylvia
42. Hill, MBE, Carol
43. Hill, MBE, Georgine
44. Hodgson, Dr. Eva
45. Horton-Symonds, Barbara
46. Howie, Lisa Annemarie
47. Jackson, Juliette
48. Jackson, MBE, JP, MP, Louise
49. Jacobs-Matthews, Heather
50. Joell,Wanda Mariea
51. Jones, Louise
52. Jones, Marion
53. Jones, Edna Mae
54. Mallory, JP, Oda
55. Matthews-Paynter, Dr. Dorothy
56. Maxwell, MBE, Florence
57. Morrell, Gladys Carolyn- deceased
58. Morrissey, Dorothy
59. Mosley, Evelou
60. Notter, Sheena
61. Nova, Heather
62. O’Kelly-Lynch, Ruth
63. Outerbridge, Marva
64. Outerbridge, Sherrie
65. Philip, Ismay Louise- deceased
66. Pimental, Joy C
67. Ray ,Tami Nakisha
68. Robinson, JP, Gryneth
69. Robinson,Wenona G.- deceased
70. Robinson,Toni Marie
71. Scott,Alice- deceased
72. Scott, MBE, Edna Mae – deceased
73. Shiell, Laurie
74. Simmons, Evangelist Joan
75. Simons, Rochelle
76. Simons Ratteray Burch, MBE, Frances- deceased
77. Smatt-Adkins, Jennifer
78. Smith,Ann
79. Smith,DBE,JP,DHumL,MP,Hon.Dame Jennifer M.
80. Smith, Lorna Joann
81. Smith-Gordon, MBE,Ann
82. Snelling, Juliana
83. Soares, MBE, Hilary
84. Spence, Gina V.
85. Spencer-Arscott,Ann
86. Swainson, Gina
87. Swan, Dr.Yvette
88. Thomas, MBE, JP, Ruth
89. Thompson, PhD, Dorothy- deceased
90. Trott, Olive- deceased
91. Trott, Dorothy
92. Trott Butterfield, Dorothy – deceased
93. Tucker, Dr. Olivia- deceased
94. Wade, Fern
95. Wade-Miller, JP, Justice Norma
96. Williams, Chief Inspector Na-imah
97. Wilson,Andrea
98. Wilson-Tucker, Joy
99. Young, Carolyn
100. Young, Kim

Update: Congratulations from Kim.Swan, Leader of the Opposition below:

Today is the day that commemorates the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day.

It is also another fine day that the Lord has made and I am exceedingly glad to be able to acknowledge that as we take time to recognise the contribution of 100 outstanding Women of Vision in Bermuda.

On behalf of my wife Cindy and my United Bermuda Party colleagues, it is an honour for me to pay homage to the worthy women nominated by the public and announced today in recognition of 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day.

Personally, I am appreciative because of the toils of my mother and other significant women who have had a positive influence on my life.

Let us remember and celebrate the spirit of caring, compassion and spirit of love that are important characteristics which often symbolise women.

Today, we congratulate the 100 Women of Vision, for their contributions which have enriched the lives of others and added value for the betterment of our society.

Let their example which has been a light that burns brightly in our midst, continue to be a beacon amidst the fog of uncertainty and challenges that we face.

Let the good values that they have applied continue to be infectious to their family, friends and by extension our country.

Congratulations to each recipient on being named amongst the 100 Women of Vision in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day.

Update #2: Minister of Youth, Families, Sports and Community Glenn Blakeney’s full remarks follow:

PROTOCOL HAVING BEEN ESTABLISHED Let me start by thanking everyone in attendance this afternoon for joining us in the Bermuda Government’s celebration and Proclamation of the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day. In particular I would like to commend the staff of the Department of Human Affairs and members of the Women’s Council for organizing this event. I also want to congratulate our honourees and extend a Bermuda welcome to our distinguished international speaker whom you shall hear from shortly.

The Bermuda Government’s theme for this special 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day and for 2011 is “Strong Women Create Strong Communities”.

So what are we celebrating today?

First, we are certainly celebrating the 100 Women who had 100 Visions! These women, who have been nominated by the general public and selected by the Bermuda Women’s Council, span a century of contribution, charitable works and progress for a better life.

Some are no longer with us and we also recognize their achievements.

I would like to acknowledge and applaud the women who ARE present here today for their outstanding achievements and contribution to Bermuda. These ladies are identifiable by the purple ribbon which they are wearing and we applaud you.

What else are we celebrating today?

Certainly the progress that Bermuda has made towards equality between men and women. We are celebrating our solidarity with other women from around the world and as we do, we must particularly remember those living in conflict and in poverty, and whose rights are violated daily.

As we celebrate, we should also reflect on where we stand in Bermuda, how far we have progressed and what still needs to be achieved to ensure equality and those rights and opportunities that are integral parts of womens rights as citizens.

Bermuda is an island of some 65,000 people, and according to the last census 52% are female and 48% are male. Yet we still cannot say that women in general enjoy the same status as men in our society nor can we say that they are properly represented at the national decision-making level. Although great achievements have been made and our esteemed Hounorable Premier Cox is Bermuda’s 3rd female Premier and our Senate is predominantly female, only 19% of the Members of Parliament are female.

Women are increasingly better-educated with more and more girls out-performing boys in primary and secondary school. Yet these achievements are not similarly reflected upon maturity in their adult professional life. The glass ceiling – and the sticky floor – continue to be realities for women.

Equally noteworthy is a tendency of many from the younger generation who feel that all the battles have been won for women. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights and more and more women being role models in all facets of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equal to that of their male counterparts and women are still not present in equal numbers in the business world and in politics.

Women continue to shoulder the bulk of the responsibility for caring for children and elderly relatives. The reconciliation of work and family life, which we talk about so much, is still mainly regarded as a woman’s role.

The Government in the last 12 months has put a renewed focus on gender affairs and in particular women and women’s issues. The recently formed Bermuda Women’s Council, chaired by Ms. Laurie Shiell, has a number of tasks that are currently being addressed, including the development of workplace sexual harassment policies, research and recommendations on family leave policies and identifying any social, educational, economic and legislative policies and barriers that prevent the full participation in any aspect of Bermuda life. The Department of Human Affairs, which has as part of its remit the mandate for gender affairs, provides both financial and technical support to the Council.

And finally, as announced today by Premier Cox, Bermuda’s ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (also known by the acronym CEDAW) is indeed imminent. The extension of this Convention to Bermuda will go a long way to showing the world that this Government is committed to guaranteeing that our Women are afforded international protections.

My Ministry is responsible for ensuring that those matters or areas identified as requiring further attention will be addressed and that the spirit and intent of CEDAW is accomplished.

Please enjoy the rest of the celebrations planned for the month of March and a Calendar of Events is available for collection here today. Once again, congratulations to the 100-women that we honour here today for their invaluable contributions respectively, which is a true testamennt that “Strong Women Create Strong Communities”. THANK YOU …….

Click to enlarge poster:

[Editors note: We apologise for our tardiness in covering this very important news. However, Bernews was excluded from the initial release of information which Government opted to publicise in the form of a paid advertisement.

Bernews had planned to provide full coverage and comprehensive information about the Bermuda nominees, free of charge, to mark International Women’s Day. After contacting the relevant officials, we were finally provided with a copy of the advertisement and names, as seen above, at approximately 9:45am this morning.]

#AwardWinners #DrBarbaraBall #HeatherNova #JenniferSmith #NelethaButterfield #RebeccaFaulkenberry

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